Live tennis commentary: 2013 Australian Open, day eight

That wraps up over live coverage on the second Monday of the 2013 Australian Open. But don't for a minute think the tennis action has come to an end. Andy Murray is now on court for his fourth round match against Gilles Simon, while the Roger Federer-Milos Raonic highlights the night session on Rod Laver Arena. And don't forget Serena Williams versus Maria Kirilenko. Stay with this website for live scores and the latest news.

Aus Open Day 8: Raonic faces Federer

Tennis writers Peter Hanlon and Linda Pearce preview Day 8 of the Australian Open.

6:07pm on 21 Jan 2013

Something of a moving day at Melbourne Park on day eight. Defending women's champion Victoria Azarenka will meet comeback Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. Azarenka needed less than an hour to overpower unseeded Russian Elena Vesnina 6-1 6-1 to book a place in the last eight. Kuznetsova, who overpowered Caroline Wozniacki in three tough sets, said she was now refreshed and fit after becoming jaded last year. "I broke a little bone in my knee and was on crutches for about two months," she said. "I had been a little bit tired travelling over 10 years but I feel a lot fresher now." READ MORE

Stephens advances to the quarter-finals where she she's on track for a match-up with that other American .... Serena Williams. The 19-year-old has now notched her best grand slam result - a spot in the final eight. Expect the American cable channels to be all over the next contest. Let's let Serena win her fourth round match first, of course.

GAME, SET, MATCH! Another grand slam quarter-final for Tsonga. He stepped it up as the match progressed and showed his superiority. What do two Frenchman do after clashing in the Australian Open fourth round? A quick peck on the check (both sides of course) will suffice.

Tsonga entering the zone now, suddenly closing to within three games of winning the match after breaking Gasquet twice in the fourth set. The big fella is looking like more than a worthy quarter-finalist. It's a shame he'll probably face the Fed Express next up.

Tsonga holds to move into the box seat. Yet the total points won for the match are almost level between the players. And Tsonga's first serve percentage (54%) could do with some improvement. What was that we said earlier about Gasquet needing to seize his chances? No better moment than the present.

Two Frenchman on court. Another in the TV commentary booth. What do you think?

4:52pm on 21 Jan 2013

Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) versus Sloane Stephens (USA) [29], 1-6 3-3

One of the emerging American women on the tour, Sloane Stephens, is getting the job done in her fourth round match. The 19-year-old needed a mere 25 minutes to win the first set 6-1, but the match has tightened up thereafter.

It's one-set all in the clash between two players sitting happily in the world's top 10. Gasquet holds serve to take the set, only giving up one point. Crowd on Rod Laver Arena set for a compelling match here.

The No.9 seed fights back on centre court. Plenty on the line her for Gasquet, a player who was eliminated in the fourth round at each of the slams in 2012. And an inaugural grand slam quarter-final berth - achieved with a win over Tsonga - would be something to savour.

4:13pm on 21 Jan 2013

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) [7] versus Richard Gasquet (FRA) [9], 6-4

How's this for a battle for national pride? Tsonga, a memorable finalist here five years ago when he lost to Novak Djokovic in the decider, gets the upper hand in the first set against his countryman. What does a fourth round match between two Frenchman actually mean? Henri Leconte in the commentary box for Channel Seven! The man who's tonsils divide the Australian TV audience is in the hot seat. What gems can he come up with? Already the debate about whether he's actually funny or not is well underway on social media.

3:43pm on 21 Jan 2013

Jeremy Chardy (FRA) versus Andreas Seppi (ITA) [21], 5-7 6-3 6-2 6-2

Chardy wins through! It's something of a breakthrough slam for the world No.36. The 25-year-old comes from one set down to defeat his higher-ranked opponent. But his quarter-final berth comes with a cost ... a likely showdown with the last man to win a grand slam event, Andy Murray. Chardy took two hours and 42 minutes to outlast the Italian.

3:07pm on 21 Jan 2013

Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [1] versus Elena Vesnina (RUS), 6-1 6-1

How's that for an attractive scoreline? The world No.1 takes care of business in 57 minutes. Perplexingly, the Russian managed a superior first serve percentage (71%), compared to 56% for the Belarussian. But here's the story of the tape: Azarenka's 58 winners to 31 for Vesnina.

3:03pm on 21 Jan 2013

Jeremy Chardy (FRA) versus Andreas Seppi (ITA) [21], 5-7 6-3 6-2

Chardy continuing his charge through the draw, moving to a two-sets-to-one advantage on Hisense Arena. Several Frenchman still alive in his half of the draw, including Gilles Simon, Jo Wilfried-Tsonga and Richard Gasquet.

Breaks of serve coming with increasing regularity for Azarenka. This will be a good experience for Vesnina. But the world No.1 can now start thinking about a dangerous quarter-final clash with Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Just 29 minutes for Azarenka to take the opening set. Looking like a clinical progression to the final eight for the Belarussian. The world No.1 will serve first in the second set.

2:16pm on 21 Jan 2013

Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [1] versus Elena Vesnina (RUS), 3-0

A red-hot start for the world No.1 in her fourth round match against the unseeded Elena Vesnina. Two breaks of serve already for the defending champion. Just a reminder that Vesnina found her way in the round of 16 after upsetting Italian Roberta Vinci, the No.16 seed in the third round.

1:57pm on 21 Jan 2013

The singles draw is out for Tuesday's matches as the quarter-finals start at Melbourne Park. No surprise to see Novak Djokovic versus Tomas Berdych feature in the night session. Li Na against Agnieszka Radwanska will start proceedings on Rod Laver Arena, followed by the other men's quarter: David Ferrer versus Nicolas Almagro. The Ekaterina Makarova-Maria Sharapova quarter-final won't get underway any earlier than 3:30pm.

IT'S OVER! An impressive service game from the Russian sees Kuznetsova close it out and win this tight fourth round match. The compelling final set lasted 75 minutes after the duo swapped the first two sets. Look out for the rest of the tournament. Kuznetsova could continue her rampage through her half of the women's draw. She's obviously much better than her current No.75 singles ranking.